Celebrate Earth Day – and a Giveaway!

With Earth Day right around the corner, I’m teaming up with Cascadian Farm to celebrate!  What better way to celebrate all that the Earth has to offer than by enjoying a fun, organic meal with friends?  And how about if that meal was practically effortless?

I love that Cascadian Farm has so many organic products that I can trust.  I was able to create an entire menu using Cascadian Farm products.

I used Muir Glen’s fire roasted tomatoes (my favorite) to make an incredible sauce for my crock pot pork sliders. These guys were gone in the blink of an eye!  Crock pot recipes are just as perfect for entertaining as they are for busy weeknights.

I also used Cascadian Farm green beans to create a savory side dish to go with it – Sauteed Green Beans with Carmelized Onions.  Green beans are a staple in our freezer, so I love coming up with interesting ways to serve them.  This was a big hit.  The fresh taste complimented the slow cooked pork perfectly.

And for dessert – who wouldn’t be tempted by a big bowl of vanilla ice cream?  I topped it with mixed berries, blueberry sauce, and granola, all from Cascadian Farms.  It doesn’t get any easier than that folks.  No one held back when I asked if anyone wanted seconds.

And now for the giveaway!  Cascadian Farms is providing a truly amazing prize!

This giveaway is now CLOSED.  Congratulations to the winner – Christina Travis.  Thanks to all who entered! 

The winner will receive this insulated picnic tote filled with great products from Cascadian Farm.  In addition to the fabulous picnic basket, it includes a stainless steel water bottle, a full size box of granola, a full size box of granola bars, a full size jar of organic blueberry spread, a book on 365 ways to live a greener life, and coupons for FREE Cascadian Farm products!  There are also some cute stickers and a booklet of divine looking recipes as well.   Scroll to the bottom of this post to find out how to enter!

Now, for the recipes –

Spicy Pork Sliders
serves 6-8

1 can (14.5 ounces) fire roasted tomatoes, undrained
2 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
pinch of cayenne
3 lb pork shoulder roast
2 cups onions, sliced
12 slider buns

Place the tomatoes, honey, vinegar, garlic, oregano, paprika, and cayenne into the bowl of a food processor.  Process until smooth.  (You could use a blender instead.)

Place onions in the bottom of the crock pot, and place pork roast on top.  Pour sauce over pork.  Cover and cook on high 4-5 hours, or on low for 8-10 hours.

Remove pork from crock pot and shred using two forks.  Place shredded pork back into the crock pot and stir well.

To serve, spoon pork into slider buns.

Sauteed Green Beans with Onions
serves 4 (double if making for a crowd)

2 teaspoons butter
1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 package Cascadian Farm frozen green beans, thawed

Melt butter over medium heat in a large skillet.  Add onions and cook until just beginning to turn translucent and tender.  Add thawed green beans and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes.  Serve warm.

Healthy Vanilla Ice Cream Sundaes

1 large carton of your favorite vanilla ice cream
1/4 cup Cascadian Farm Organic Blueberry Spread
3/4 cup Cascadian Farm frozen mixed berries, thawed
1/2 cup Cascadian Farm granola

Scoop desired amount of ice cream into 6 bowls.  Place blueberry spread into a microwave safe bowl.  Heat in microwave for 15-20 seconds, until liquified.  Spoon over ice cream.  Add berries and granola in equal amounts to each bowl.  Serve immediately.

Cascadian Farm Earth Day Celebration Giveaway – how to enter:

This giveaway is now CLOSED.

To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment, telling me your favorite Cascadian Farm product OR how you’ll celebrate Earth Day this year.  (Pick one or the other, not both.)

For a second entry, “Like” Our Family Eats on Facebook, then come back and leave a comment telling me that you did.

For a third entry, “Like” Cascadian Farm on Facebook, then come back here and leave a comment telling me that you did.

This giveaway is open to US residents only.  All entries must be received by Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 9 PM EST.  A winner will be announced April 5, 2012 at 10 PM via the blog.  If winner does not respond to the announcement within 3 days, a new winner will be chosen.  Good Luck!

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